A mother's world was shattered when a friend's simple observation in a photograph led to a devastating diagnosis for her one-year-old daughter.
A Friend's Keen Eye Spots a Subtle Sign
Elissa Hilsden, 30, from Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, first took her daughter Capri to the doctor after her first birthday in November. The little girl had cold-like symptoms, which were initially dismissed as a likely virus. However, concern grew when a friend sent a text message about noticing a persistent head tilt in photos and videos of the toddler.
"I hope I don't overstep here," the friend wrote, "Have you asked anyone about her little head tilt?" Elissa, an engineering teacher, reviewed recent images and realised the subtle change, feeling immense guilt for not spotting it herself amidst the daily routine.
The Devastating Diagnosis That Changed Everything
After an initial assessment at Bedford Hospital suggested an ear infection, a course of antibiotics was prescribed. Yet Elissa's anxiety deepened when she noticed a worrying vacancy in Capri's right eye. Returning to the GP, the family was sent straight back to hospital.
A CT scan revealed the horrific truth: Capri had an extensive brain tumour. "It was that moment that everything crumbled," Elissa recalled. The diagnosis was an Embryonal Tumour with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMR), a rare and highly aggressive form of childhood brain cancer.
Doctors delivered a devastating prognosis, warning that without further intervention, the family might have as little as two months left with their daughter.
A Gruelling Medical Journey and a Family's Resilience
Capri was blue-lighted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where she underwent a 12-hour brain operation on November 18. Surgeons could only remove about 80% of the tumour. The battle intensified when Capri developed sepsis, requiring emergency intensive care.
In a critical move, she was transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. There, surgeons used an intra-operative MRI scanner to remove more of the tumour, making chemotherapy a viable option. Capri then returned to Addenbrooke's for a stem cell harvest and surgery to fit a shunt to relieve brain pressure.
Her first of six intensive chemotherapy sessions began on December 20. Elissa and Capri's father, Anthony, 35, an engineer, have spent over a month living on the ward, sleeping by her side throughout her operations and recovery.
Finding Light in a Hospital Christmas
The family spent Christmas at Addenbrooke's, where staff helped create special moments. "Addenbrookes have pulled out all the stops," Elissa said. Santa left a secret stocking, and Capri's favourite gift was a doctor's kit from her oncologist, Charlie, who helped her overcome her fear of stethoscopes.
Facing immense financial pressure from travel and needing to modify their home between chemotherapy cycles, the family started a GoFundMe campaign. They have already raised over £34,000 towards their £50,000 goal, allowing both parents to remain at Capri's bedside.
"We honestly didn't know how we could afford to be by her bedside through the six rounds of chemo that she needs," Elissa admitted. The community's support is now a crucial part of brave Capri's fight against this rare cancer.
